Is My Optical Mouse Dying?

[Bird]

Well, I tried the eraser and that didn't fixt it. So, I've tried everything except using a different USB port, as jinman suggested. I didn't try that because I don't have an unused port on the back of the tower and I use the front ones frequently for the flash drives, and really wouldn't want the mouse plugged into the front unless there was just no alternative. So I went to Best Buy this morning and the young man there also thinks my old mouse is dying, so I bought a new Dynex ($18.99 plus tax). It works fine right now; more sensitive that the old Gateway so the cursor moves faster. I suspect you're right, Wayne, that the old one was dying so we'll give this one a few days and see.

 

[/pine]

...more sensitive that the old Gateway so the cursor moves faster...

you can adjust the sensitivity and cursor speed of the mouse in the control panel...should be a "mouse" icon...

 

[Bird]

you can adjust the sensitivity and cursor speed of the mouse in the control panel...should be a "mouse" icon...

Thanks, and yes, it's there, but I think I might like the faster speed.

 

[LMTC]

Bird,
Insignia is BB's house brand I believe, and Dynex is about the same level. Never tried their hardware, did buy a couple of dynex tape players on sale a few years back and they had a life consistent with their price. I do know the things I get from the source I referenced to you have always been at least decent, and always worth the money.

I cannot recall a mouse ever just going "belly up" on me; there always seems to be a short period of erratic behavior, but I cannot tolerate even the erratic behavior when I have orders to process. Sounds like you have an inexpensive fix that was going to be needed sooner or later anyway.

 

[Bird]

Yep, we have one of their little Insignia 20" flat panel LCD-HD TVs in the bedroom and I think the Dynex is also a house brand. Since I've never had a mouse go bad at all in the past, I don't want to buy "spares" and while I know some don't like them, so far I've had pretty good luck with Best Buy.

 

[Redbug]

Also Bird...you can adjust your mouse speed, (the way it reacts to your movements), by going into your "Control Panel", and clicking into the "Mouse" section. There's different adjustments you can make to it so it works better for you.

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the information, Dave, but I've gotten used to this faster speed now and like it.

 

[arrabil]

Bird, you got a lot of dust behind the computer and all over the ports?

 

[Bird]

Bird, you got a lot of dust behind the computer and all over the ports?

I guess it depends on what you call a lot.:laughing: It's amazing how much dust can accumulate, but I periodically bring my shop vac in and use the brush/dusting tool everywhere I can. And then less frequently, and to my wife's dismay, I shut everything down, open the case on this desktop computer, and bring the air hose and blow gun in. Yep, I have plenty of hose to reach from the compressor in the shop, through the back door, through the living room, and in here where the computer is.

 

[arrabil]

If you've ever cleaned it, its not a lot of dust/dirt. Yesterday I pulled sheets of it off a customer's computer and it didn't fall apart while I was holding it. Like if you didn't clean the dryer screen for twenty cycles.

I've had that amount of crud cause problems was the only reason I asked....